A group of Swapo members at Tsumeb have accused the party’s district regional office of corruption in the process of selecting candidates aspiring for regional constituency posts in the upcoming election.
An elective conference that was slated to take place yesterday had to be cancelled as a result.
Swapo Oshikoto regional district coordinator Armas Amukwiyu has confirmed the postponement of the elective conference until the committee addresses these issues.
Swapo member and Tsumeb resident Shalipo YaShalipo yesterday told The Namibian the names sent from the various branches to the district regional office were “cooked”.
He claimed there were names that were never elected, while others were removed despite making it through the process.
“We do not accept this behaviour. Some of these names that were not on the list that were sent who were just added, are people who are being investigated for drought relief theft while another one was fired from the municipality over fraud/mismanagement.
“Who wants such people to stand for upcoming elections with such tainted records? This will only further paint a negative image on the party,” he said.
He said numerous letters, complaints and appeals have been submitted to the Swapo leadership regarding corruption, manipulation and injustice within the Tsumeb structures.
These cries, YaShalipo stated, have been met with silence or indifference.
The members are now demanding that the leadership from regional and national level intervene immediately.
“A team must be dispatched to Tsumeb to halt the flawed process and investigate the irregularities and corrupt practices that have been repeatedly raised by concerned comrades, elders and veterans of the liberation struggle,” he said.
If this call is ignored and the leadership proceeds to force a congress under these tainted conditions, YaShalipo warned that they will exercise their right to protest, resist and take matters into their own hands.
“This is not a threat, but a declaration of our unwavering commitment to the truth and to the values Swapo was built on: solidarity, freedom, and justice,” said YaShalipo.
Amukwiyu says the matter is being addressed internally.
“The slated elective conference has been postponed,” he states.
Tsumeb constituency councillor Gotty Ndjendjela says he is not aware of the allegations.
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